Phoenix upper limb studio
National Spinal Injuries Centre launches NHS's first upper limb studio
Stoke Mandeville Hospital launched the NHS’s first upper limb studio at its National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC) during Occupational Therapy Week.
The facility will focus specifically on the rehabilitation of the upper limb with spinal cord injured patients, helping to improve a patient’s quality of life by building the skills required for greater independence and achieving meaningful goals.
The studio is focused on activity-based restorative therapy, which uses equipment to facilitate repetitive movement to improve a patient’s level of independence following spinal cord injury. The treatment originated through the work of Superman actor Christopher Reeve.
The occupational therapy team at NSIC have built up a database of equipment which can hep deliver the therapy, and has built up evidence on the impact of the therapy over the last three years to help people recover the ability to complete functional tasks.
It now aims to contribute to clinical research and the development of equipment prototypes and design concepts to advance rehabilitation research.
“We’re now fully focused on the future and how we can work in partnership with patients, research bodies, design companies and manufacturers to further enhance the independence, personal achievement and personal wellbeing of those living with spinal cord injury”
said Ruth Peachment, NSIC occupational therapy clinical specialist.
David Smith MBE, a two-time world champion and London 2012 paralympic gold medalist in rowing, who underwent a period of rehabilitation at the NSIC, said:
“The occupational therapy upper limb group was amazing during my time at Stoke Mandeville.
Not only did it provide me and the others in the group with a challenging progamme of rehab, it gave me an enjoyable place to work hard, laugh and enjoy life all at the same time.
This is crucial when going through such a massive change in life following a spinal cord injury and is something that is often overlooked – but not in the morning occupational therapy upper limb group. I was challenged every day with a combination of rehab approaches and established a great relationship with the staff and fellow patients, which made the rehab process so much easier.”
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The upper limb studio, which officially opened in May 2021, provides a form of therapy known as Activity Based Restorative Therapy (ABRT). ABRT involves the use of equipment to facilitate repetitive movement to improve a patient’s level of independence following spinal cord injury.
The team chose the complete Upper Limb Tyrosolution by Tyromotion to help facilitate repetitive movements which would not ordinarily by achieved through hands-on therapy alone.
Working within a therapeutic framework, the team at the National Spinal Injuries Centre has demonstrated the positive impact of intensive repetition in rehabilitation, and the overall impact on functional tasks such as feeding, drinking, return to driving, carrying out aspects of personal care, and returning to work.
The upper limb studio was shortlisted out of over 1000 entries submitted for this year’s HSJ Awards.
The judging panel was made up of respected figures within the healthcare community, including Sir Bruce Keogh (Chair, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s FT); Marie Gabriel CBE (Chair, NHS Race and Health Observatory); and former HSJ Trust of the Year winners Ann Marr OBE (Chief Executive, St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Trust) and Richard Mitchell (Chief Executive, Sherwood Forest Hospitals FT).
